Vise lock



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS INVENTCR HEINRICH R. Q'HEINRICH 'VISE LOCK Filed Nov. 26, 1943 Jan. 15, 1946.

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- VISE LOCK v Robert O. Heinrich, Racine, Wis.

Application November 26, 1943, Serial No. 511,779

Claims.

This invention appertains to improvements in vises and clamps of the type shown in my pending applications, Serial No. 487,099, filed May 15, 1943; and Serial No. 493,351, filed July 3, 1943, issued Nov. 7, 1944 as Patent No. 2,362,067.

In my pending applications, I illustrated a novel vise and clamp embodying an operating lever and plates for moving the adjustable vise jaw into and out of locldng and gripping position.

In these applications, the adjustable jaw, with the lever in one position, could be freely slid by hand into initial engagement with the work and then thereafter forcibly moved into locking and gripping position by the lever.

It is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide means whereby the sliding jaw can be forcibly advanced in a step by step movement toward the stationary jaw for compressing and gripping work as well as operated freely by sliding back and forth by hand.

Another salient object of my present invention is to provide novel means for manually setting certain of the vise beam engaging plates, whereby the sliding jaw can either be advanced forcibly in a step by step movement by the lever or left for free sliding movement by hand and actuated to a locking and gripping position by the lever.

A further important object of my invention is to provide novel means for mounting the plates in the casting or frame of the vise, whereby a simple, compact and durable structure will be had.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional View through my novel vise showing the plates in position to permit free sliding movement of the movable jaw and its beams with certain of the plates ready for actuation by the hand lever to move the adjustable jaw to its locking and gripping position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the manual means moved into a position, whereby the sliding jaw can be forcibly adjusted in a step by step movement toward the stationary jaw.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view through the vise taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter V generally indicates my improved vise or clamp and the same includes a casting or frame 5.

This casting or frame 5 embodies a base 6, which can be fastened to a work bench or any other preferred place. Likewise, it is to be understood that the base can be of the swiveled type, should such be desired. Formed on the base 6 is a hollow housing I andthe upper forward end of the housing has formed thereon the rigid jaw 8..

\ pair of locking and advancing plates I3 and I4.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the plates I3 and I4 are provided with, respectively, openings I5 and I6 through which the beams 9 and I0 extend. The walls of the openings I5 and I6 are preferably tapered to provide an annular gripping tooth I'I. When the plates I3 and I 4 are in a straight vertical plane, the beams 9 and I0 can move freely through the openings I5 and I6, However, when the plates are tilted, the same will grip and hold the beams.

In order to insure the proper holding of the plates I3 and I4 in a vertical position to release the beams 9 and I0 when desired, the inner surface of the hollow housing I has formed thereon inwardly extending vertically disposed abutment ribs [8.

The beams 9 and I E] have coiled about the same expansion springs I9 and I9 respectively which normally urge the plates I3 and l 4 against the ribs l8 to a released position, To facilitate synchronous movement of the plates I3 and I4, the same are provided with interengaging lips 20 at their inner ends.

Extending transversely through the hollow housing I in advance of the tiltable plates I3 and I4 is a rotatable cam shaft 2 I. Connected to the outer end of the cam shaft is an operating hand lever 22. The throw portion 23 of the shaft is arranged adjacent to the meeting ends of the plates I 3 and I4 and consequently when the cam shaft is rocked in a clockwise direction (see Figures 1 and 2) the plates will be tilted by said shaft. As the plates are tilted, the same will move the beams 9 and II! to the right and the jaw II toward the jaw 8. Upon continued downward movement of the lever 22, the plates will be firmly held in their tilted position against the tension of the springs I9 and I9 and hence the beams 9 and ID will be locked and work placed between the jaws 8 and I I will be firmly gripped.

When the hand lever 22 is swung back to its released positionto the left, the plates I3 and I4 will be moved back to their straight vertical position by the springs I9 and I9 and the movement of the plates will move the beams 9 and I slightly to the left and releasethe work between the jaws.

In accordance with my present invention, I

provide means whereby the beams can be held against backward sliding movement (when so desired) so that upon continued movement of the hand lever 22 back andforth, the movable 'jaw II can be forcibly urged in a step by step movement toward the rigid jaw 8, This feature is of importance in certain types of work, such as compressing coil springs, and other types of work. In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a leaf spring S between the jaws and being compressed,

This means includes a locking plate 24 and this plate is provided with an opening 25 through which slidably extends the beam 9. The wall of the opening 25 can also be provided with an annular gripping tooth, if so desired. The upper end of the plate 24 has formed thereon a lip 26, which is rockably mounted in a socket 2'! formed in the upper wall of the hollow housing I, The lower end of the plate 24 extends in front of the cam shaft 2!, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Also mounted upon the beam as an expansion coil spring 28 and this spring is confined between theplates I3 and 24. The spring functions to normally tilt the plate 24 to a gripping position for engaging the beam 9. A compensating coil spring 2 9 is placed on the beam III'between. one wall of the housing I and the plate I4 and this spring merely operates in conjunction with the spring I9 to centerthe plate I4.

' Arranged in front of the lower end of the lock plate 24. is a cam shaft 39,. This cam shaft is rotatably carried by the hollow housing and has connected therewith a small hand lever 3|, whereby the same can be manually actuated. The throw portion 32 of the shaft 30. is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the lower end of the lock plate 24. When the cam shaft 30 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the'throw portion 32 thereof moves into engagement with the lower end of the, plate and holds the same in a vertical position against thetension of the spring 28 so that the beam 9 can slide freely through the plate 24. However, when the cam portion 32 of the shaft 30 is moved away handle 22 down, the jaw II will again be forcibly advanced.

By rotating the crank shaft 39 in a clockwise direction (see Figure 2) the cam portion 32 thereof will be brought into engagement with the locking plate 24 and move and hold this plate in a vertical position, see Figure 1. With the handle 22 in its elevated position, the jaw I I can be freely slid back and forth. The vise can now be operated in the same manner as my vises shown in my mentioned pending applications and hence the jaw I I can he slid to an initial desired position in close engagement with the work and upon swinging down the handle 22, the plates I3 and I4 will be tilted for moving the jaw I I into tight gripping contact with the work and the tilted plates will hold the beams 9 and I0 against movement. When the handle 22 is swung up, the plates I3 and I4 will be returned to their vertical position by their springs I9 and I9 and this return movement will move the jaw II to release the work.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A vise or clamp comprising a, frame, a fixed jaw on the frame, a, movable jaw, a smooth vise beam rigidly connected to the movable jaw and slidably associated with the frame for free movement, means for advancing and-retracting the movable jaw to and from a work clamping position'including a tiltable clamp plate for engaging the beam, manual means for tilting the plate, spring means for returning the plate to a substantially right angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the beam, and means for preventing the releasing of the beam and movement of the movable jaw away from the work including a. tiltable lock plate, spring means for tilting the lock-plate to a clamping position and manual means for returning the lock plate to a released substantially right angular position relative to the beam.

2'. A vise or clamp comprising a frame, a fixed jaw on the frame, a movable jaw, a smooth vise beam rigidly connected to the movable jaw and slidably associated with the frame for free movement, means for advancing and retracting the movable jaw to and from a work clamping position including a tilta'ble clamp plate for engaging the beam, manual means for tilting the plate, spring means for returning the plate to a substantially right angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the beam, and means for preventing the releasing of the beam and movefrom the plate 24, see Figure 2, the plate will be tilted by the spring 28 into its locking position.

In use of m vise, when the plate 2d is tilted, as shown in Figure 2, the jaw II can be advanced forcibly in a step by step movement toward the jaw 8,; This is accomplished by swinging down on the lever 22 for tilting the plates I3 and I4 which will move the jaw I,I toward the jaw 8. As, the handl 221s moved up toits released posi tion, the springs I9 and I9 will move the plates I.3 and MY to. their verticalp ositiombut the plate 24 will, prevent, movement of the beam 9,to the ment of the movable jaw away from the work including a tiltable lock plate, spring means for tilting the lock plate to a clamping position, and manual means for returning the lock plate to a released substantially right angular position relative to the beam, said last named means including a cam shaft having a throw portion for engaging the locking plate and a handle for turning said. shaft;

3. In a vise or clamp, a frame, a fixed jaw on the frame, a movable jaw, 'a smooth vise beam fixed to the movable jaw and slidabl associated with the frame, means for advancing and retracting the movable jaw to and from a work clamping position including a tiltableplate carried by the frame having an opening through the beam, manual means for tilting the plate to advance and lock the beam, spring. means engaging the plate for normally holding the plate at right-angles to the beam whereby the beam can slide freely through the opening, a lock plate rockably mounted in the frame having an opening through which the beam normally slides, a spring means engaging the lock plate for tilting said plate to a locking position and independent manual means for moving said lock plate against said spring means to a substantiall right angular position relative to the longi tudinal axis of the beam and to released position.

4. A vise or clamp comprising a frame having afixed jaw thereon, a movable jaw, a pair of vise beams rigidl secured to the movable jaw for supporting the same and slidably mounted for free movement on the frame, whereby the movable jaw can be freely slid toward and away from the fixed jaw, said beams being arranged in spaced parallel relation, a tiltable clamp plate for each beam, the inner ends of the clamp plates being arranged in overlapping relation, spring meansengaging the plates for normally holding the plates in a released position at right-angles to the beams, manually actuated means engaging the overlapping portions of the plates to tilt said plates, a tiltable clamp plate for one of the beams, spring means normally urging the lock plate to a tilted locked position and manual means for holding the clamp plate in a released position at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the beam against the tension of said last named spring means.

5. In a vise or clamp, a frame, a fixed jaw on the frame, a movable jaw, a smooth beam secured to the movable jaw and slidably mounted in said frame, elongated rigid stop means on the frame on each side of the beam having plane stop faces at direct right-angles to the beam, means for advancing and retracting the movable jaw to and from a work clamping position including a tiltable clamp plate having an opening through which the beam extends, spring means engaging the plate for normally holding the plate against said plane stop faces of the elongated rigid stop means, whereby the beam can freely slide through the opening, and manual means for tilting the plate against said spring means at an angle to said rigid stop means and the beam.

ROBERT O. HEINRICH. 

